Instep bandages



July 9, 1957 G. WSTEMANN v 2,798,309

INSTEP BANDAGES 4 Filed NOV. 17, 1953 lHVErITDR:

INSTEP "BANDAGES -Gustav` Wstemann, Basel, Switzerland, Aassignorrto l'iranz Jahrstorfer, fBasel, ASwitzerland Application November 17., 1953, Serial No. 392,724

Claims priority, application Switzerland November25, 1952 f4 Claims. ((21.3,6-825) The present invention relates -to an instep bandage fand more particularly to an instep bandage which supports the instep during Walking .without-compressingthe sole of the foot adjacent the instep.

In instep bandages according to the prior Tart, the bandage which effectively binds the instep is so constructed that the sole of the foot is cramped Aand-compressed during Walking. v

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an instep bandage which presents a smooth walking surface while at the same time maintaining the instep bound securely.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an instep bandage which can be constructed `and massproduced easily and inexpensively.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an instep bandage which can be inserted into a shoe with a minimum distortion of the shape of the footreceiving cavity of the shoe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an instep bandage which is easily applied to and removed from lthe foot.

With the above objects in view, the present invention mainly consists in an instep bandage having a half-sole portion and an elongated flexible strap portion which are bendable relative each other about a bending axis substantially coincident with the rear edge of the half-sole portion and in Which the end portions of the strap portion encompass the instep of a foot. The central portion intermediate these end portions cooperates with lthe half-sole portion to provide `a smooth continuous walking surface for the sole of the foot while the inner faces of the strap portion are smooth and present ya continuous surface in supporting the instep of the foot.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are 4set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of `specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a `side view showing one embodiment of the instep bandage of the present invention located in a Shoe and encompassing an instep;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the present invention; and

Fig. 3 is a developed top view of the device shown in Fig. 2.

With reference to the drawings, Fig. l shows an instep bandage, indicated generally by the numeral 27, located in a shoe 1 and encompassing the instep of a foot 1a.

The instep bandage 27 includes an elongated half-sole 2 having a supporting face 12 and a rear edge 2a extending transversely to the length a of the half-'sole 2.

The instep bandage 27 in-cludes also an elongated strap portion 25 having a width w and a length s. The strap nited States Patent() M Patented July 9, 1957 v2 portion 25 includes opposite end portions 3 :.an'd'4 and a central portion therebetween. The `strapportion 25 has opposite inner Aand `outer faces, the ,inner `face includingupontions l13, `1f4 -and 15c,.respectively associated with the portions A3, 4'4, and `15.

rAs -fshown in 4Fig. 3, the portions 3, 4 and 115 have llengths, respectively, as-indicated by .-e c, and e2, so `that :the overall length of the strap lportion 25 iss.

The length 'of the .central portion `15 of the strap portion 25 is v:substantially `equal :to .the length ofthe rear -edgeZa :of the half-sole portion t2, Iasshown by c -in Fig. '3.

A side edge '15s 'of-the' cent1-.al vportion 15 `is coincident with the rear edge 5.2arof the Ahalf-:sole portion 2 so that the `half-sole portion "2 extends Vtransversely to Ithe strap portion 25.

The :inner :face .of Athevstrap portion .25 is vflush with the supportingface 12 of the half-:sole portion 2. The strap portion 25 .and ftheIhalf-soleportion 2.are bendable relative eachother Aaboutta bending 'axis I-I substantially coincident with the frearedge Zaof the half-sole portion 2.

The-strap :portion 25 is made of :a flexible material so :that theend portions and thereof may Tbe 'brought-to- Ward each other and be secured to each other so as to encompass the instep yof the foot 1a positioned on the supporting face 12 of the half-sole portion 2.

'By virtue of the above arrangement, the forward part of the foot 1a rests upon a continuous surface constituted by the supporting face 12 of the half-sole portion 2 and by the portion 15e of the inner face of the strap portion 25. Also, the portions 13, 14 and 15e` of the inner face yof the strap portion `25 form a continuous surface which will be in -contact with the instep of the foot 1a while the end portions 3, 4, encompass the same. It will be seen that the strap portion 25 may be bent relative lto the halfsole 2 about the bending axis I-I during walking movement of the foot.

Sets of mated holes 7 and 8 are formed in the instep portion and in t-he shoe 1, respectively, for receiving a shoe lace 8 which passes through both sets of holes to hold the bandage 27 securely in position around the instep of the foot 1a.

The portions 3, 4 of the instep portion 25 may be formed -of leather or other flexible material. These portions 3, 4 may also have the outer surfaces thereof covered by a lining 6, of leather or other material.

Cushion means 5 are advantageously adhesively secured on the under surface of the half-sole portion 2. The cushion means 5 is preferably a layer of vfoam latex which prevents slipping inside the shoe.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the halfsole portion 2 and the strap portion 25 are `formed integrally with each other. In other embodiments, the portions 2 and 25 are connected to each other by stitching, adhesive or other means. v

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also iind a useful applicati-on in other types of instep bandages differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in instep bandage adapted to be interlaced with a shoe, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristi-cs of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: t K

1. An instep bandage adapted to be inserted into a shoe and composed of an elongated half-sole having a supporting face and a rear edge extending transverselyvto the length of said half-sole, and an elongated strap portion having opposite faces and also having opposite end portions and a central portion therebetween, the length of said central portion being substantially equal to the length of said rear edge, a side `edge of said central portion being -coincident with said rear edge of said half-'sole so that said strap portion extends transversely to the length of said half-sole, one of said faces of said strap portion being flush with said supporting face of said half-sole, said strap portion and said half-sole being bendable relative to each other about a bending axis substantially coincident with said rear edge, and said strap portion being made of a flexible material so that said end portions thereof may be brought toward each other and be secured to each other so as to encompass the instep of a foot positioned on said supporting face of said halfsole, whereby the forward part of a foot may rest upon a continuous surface constituted by said supporting face of said half-sole and by that portion of said one face of said strap portion which is associated with said central portion thereof, whereby those portions of said one face of said strap portion which are associated with said end portions thereof are in contact with the instep of the foot while said end portions encompass the same, the lastmentioned portions of said one face forming a continuous surface with the remainder of said one face, and whereby said strapfportion may bend relative to said half-sole about said bending axis during walking movement of the foot.

2. An instep bandage as defined in claim 1, and cushioning means 4on the undersurface of said half-sole.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,058,561 Davis Apr. 8, 1913 1,976,819 Weiler Oct. 16, 1934 `2,658,288 Scholl Nov. 10, 1953 -wenn 

